By EDWARD SEVERN
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Marine Military Academy cadet William Webb spent hours at practice for moments that would last maybe a minute. Now, those moments will last forever.
Earlier this month, Webb took home the TCSAAL discus and shot put state championships. The hard work the junior put in paid off.
“It is a great feeling,” he said. “I put in hours upon hours from the time I was in seventh grade to be able to become a state champion.”
Webb is actually the back-to-back state champion in the discus. His 156-feet, 1-inch throw bested second place by nearly 42 feet.
The competition in the shot put was close: Webb’s 39-1.5 won by 5.5 inches. He did not compete in the shot put at last year’s state meet.
The junior is a multi-sport athlete at the academy, also boxing and playing football. On the football field, Webb, a leaner athlete, plays right guard, possibly the smallest right guard in the Rio Grande Valley. He is fine with that, whatever the team needs from him.
Webb also plays defensive end, a position that suits his size more.
“I am a physical person,” he said. “Defensive end gives me that opportunity to be physical, push people around and use your physical strength to where you want to be.”
Webb has one year left playing sports at the academy but has his eyes set on the military. The junior plans on training for the Naval Academy’s candidate fitness assessment this summer. One of the exercises assessed is a kneeling basketball throw.
With a 156-foot discus throw, the kneeling basketball throw should be no match for the cadet. Webb knows there is a lot more work to be put in among all aspects of his life, present and future.
“Hard works pays off,” he said. “I did not start training this year or last year, and will for many years to come. If you want to be a state champ, you have to be out there on the weekends, and after everyone leaves practice you are still there sweating, focusing on the little things that separate you from good to great.”
